(Creston, IA) Creston police officers took a 59-year-old man into custody following an hours-long standoff at a residence after a reported domestic disturbance on October 31.
According to the Creston Police Department, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of West Adams Street at approximately 10:16 p.m. Officers learned the man had attempted to enter and forced his way through the door of a neighboring residence while threatening to harm an occupant.
Officers made contact with the man at his residence, where he armed himself with a large knife and barricaded himself inside a bathroom. During the investigation, officers received information indicating the man was experiencing a mental health crisis and posed an immediate danger to himself and others.
Officers attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution. After nearly an hour, the man exited the bathroom armed with a knife and moved toward officers. He refused repeated commands to drop the weapon, prompting officers to deploy a less-lethal impact munition. The man was struck but retreated into the bathroom while still armed.
Additional assistance was requested from the Iowa State Patrol and Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement personnel continued negotiations for several hours. After attempts to gain the man’s compliance were unsuccessful, chemical munitions were deployed into the bathroom.
During the early morning hours of November 1, the man exited the bathroom. Officers continued negotiating with him and eventually took him into custody without further use of force.
The man received immediate medical attention from Greater Regional Hospital EMS personnel and was transported to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. He sustained injuries during the incident, including an injury from the less-lethal impact munition and additional self-inflicted injuries.
Criminal charges remain under consideration pending further investigation.
The Creston Police Department thanked the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Creston Fire Department, and Greater Regional Hospital for their assistance.
The department noted that incidents involving armed individuals experiencing a mental health crisis present significant challenges for law enforcement. The situation highlighted the importance of crisis intervention, cooperation between agencies, and access to less-lethal equipment and training to help protect everyone involved.
